Washing textile goods



. 1n machines.

Patented June 4, 19 29.

UNITED smras FATENT OFFICE. l

EDGAR RIEHL ANT) OTTO LIN-D, OF DUSSELDORF, GERMANY, ASSIGNORS TO HENKEL & CIE., G. M. B. 31., OF DUSSELDORF-HOLTHAUSEN, GERMANY, A CORPORATION OF GERMANY.

WASHING TEXTILE GOODS.

N0 Drawing. Application filed August 15, 1927, Serial No. 213,210, and in Germany August 17, 1926.

This invention relates to a method of washing textile goods at low temperatures and to a composition for use in said washing process.

It is known that one of the most important steps in washingstex-tile materials is the mechanical treatment of such materials by beating, pressing, rubbing by hand or agitation for example, detergents containing salts of the perboric acid, are used, such mechanical treatment is not essential.

The self-washing action of these detergents begins at temperatures above 70 0., its main action however first takes place during boiling of the textile goods. As many textile goods, such as wool, natural and artificial silk, are injured, when treated at temperatures above 70 0., these fine goods can only be cleaned by treating them mechanically.

It has been proposed to add urine to liquids for usein washing wool and woolen materials to increase the alkalinity of such liquids. Apart from the unclean and unhygienic nature of the work done with urine, the latter, in contrast with pure urea, decomposes when exposed to air and forms ammonium sul phide, ammonium sulphate, ammonium chloride, ammonium magnesium phosphate, organic amino bases and the other strongly evil-smelling substances. Urine is therefore not suitable for washing goods.

We have found, that a self-acting Washing process may be carried through at temperatures betwee n 0 and 70 C., when an enzymatic decomposition of urea is produced in the liquid used for washing. This decomposition takes place at room temperature but better at temperatures between 8-0-7 0 C. and consists in a decomposition of the urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. The decomposition is noticed by the odor of ammonia and by rising gas bubbles which carry some of the dirt with them. The washing action is assisted by the mild action of the liberated ammonia.

Our method may be carried out by using as a detergent a mixture consisting of soap, mild alkaline reacting alkali-metal compounds and the like, urea and urease, fordecomposing the urea. The action starts when this mixture is put into water, and depends WVhen self-Washing detergents,

upon the composition of the mixture, temperature, concentration and time.

The optimum of temperature for the enzymatic decomposition of urea is between 40 and (1, but a decomposition also takes place at higher and lower temperatures. There is also an optimal hydrogen ion concentration of P =7,2, which, however, need not strictly be kept.

For practical purposes, the presence of soap, mild alkaline reacting alkali-metal compounds or other substances having soaking and dirt removing properties is recommended because neither urea, nor urease, nor the decomposition reaction gives the washing liquid soaking or emulsifying qualities.

Example 1.

10 parts grain soap,

1,2 parts di-sodiumphosphate (Na HPOQ, 2 parts urea,

0,5 parts urease preparation.

Example 2.

10 parts soap 8 parts urea 6 parts mono-sodium-phosphate (NaH .PO

2 parts di-sodium-phosphate (Na HPO 4 parts urease preparation.

1,5 g. of this mixture dissolved in 1000 ccm. water at 35 C. has an hydi-rgen ion concentration P =7,2.

The enzyme urease for decomposing the urea may be produced, for example, by making an aqueous extract ofurea-containing plants, such as soya beans or jack beans.

Special advantages of the new method are that, when the above compositions are used in washing textile goods, the luster of the colors of the goods is not only preserved but even increased and that the rustling touch of the goods, which is characteristic of new textile goods made from natural and artificial silk and wool is restored.

We claim:

1. A method of washing textile fabrics comprising washing such fabrics in an aqueous detergentscontaining liquid at a temperature below C. in the presence of urea and an enzyme.

2. A method of Washing textile fabrics comprising washing such fabrics in an aque' ous detergent-containing liquid at a temperature below 70 C. in the presence of urea and urease.

3. A method of Washing textile fabrics comprising Washing such fabrics in an aque ous detergent-containing liquid at a temperature between 30 and 70 C. in the presence of urea and an enzyme.

4. A method of washing textile fabrics comprising Washing such materials at a temperature below 70 C. in an aqueous Washing liquid containing detergents, urea and urease, and having a hydrogen ion concentration l 7.2 at! 35 5. A method of Washing textile goods, comprising washing such goods at temperatures below 70 C. in aqueous Washing liquids containing soap, mild alkaline reacting alkailimetal-compounds, urea and urease.

6. A new detergent composition containing soap, mild alkaline reacting alkali-metal compounds, a preparation of urea and an enzyme for decomposing the urea.

7. A new detergent composition containing soap, mild alkaline reacting alkali-metal compounds, urea and urease.

8. Anew detergent composition containsoap and sodium phosphate, urea and urease.

9. A new detergent composition containing soap, mono-sodium-phosphate and di-sodiumphosphate, urea and urease.

10. A new detergent composition containing 10 parts of soap, 8 parts of urea, 6 parts of monosodium-phosphate, 2 parts of disodium phosphate and 4 parts of an urease preparation.

In testimony whereof We aflix our signatures.

EDGAR RIEHL. OTTO LIND. 

